There are many things in the world that make us all wonder: How does the sun rise and fall every day? Why do we wake up and do what we do every day? While some of these questions are unanswerable, there is one question that not many of us may know the exact answer to that is very definable: What is DSL? We may all have it, certainly most of us have used it, and many of us just don’t know what it is.

First of all DSL stands for something; originally it stood for “digital subscriber loop.” While not many of today’s users would acknowledge that name as it’s recently changed slightly and taken on the name “digital subscriber line” as a more popular meaning for that acronym.

DSL is a technology that provides digital transmission over a telephone network. Speeds ranging from 256kb to 24K are available on DSL lines. Speed often depends on whether the line is Asymmetric or Symmetric.

DSL is a type of broadband service but is different from a cable modem. Differences can seem insignificant but they’re notable. These include cable being faster, though not as reliable as DSL; customer satisfaction is generally greater when it comes to DSL in terms of service, reliability, and availability.

Other people question the difference between DSL and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital network) – the answer seems clear. DSL is not only faster, more readily available, it’s also less expensive! ISDN requires special wiring to be installed unlike the standard DSL copper wiring which is already installed in most business and homes.

What are your DSL internet and your DSL speed? These are important questions to ask your ISP as the answer can vary greatly. You should be ever mindful of what your ISP is trying to get you hooked up with and the fact that even if you’re saving a couple of dollars a month in costs, you could be incurring a much heavier burden than necessary in terms of slowed service.

Providers for DSL service in the states are numerous and include a round up of the usual suspects. Verizon DSL is one of the most popular in the tri state area, as is AT&T DSL. If you’re needing to do a speed test on comparable DSL technologies to find out which one you’d like to have in your home or business, most services usually come with a 30 day ‘risk free’ trial. Though be warned; don’t sign up for any direct debit program until you’re sure you want to do the DSL route with your provider, as it is very difficult to remove yourself from it!

In terms of DSL service, I know SBC is quite popular in northern climes, in the Boston area. Bellsouth DSL, obviously is more popular in the south. But be wary of anyone who offers you free DSL! No technician I know would ever want to work for free!